Redcar Bears are hoping to re-arrange their Tweed-Tees Trophy, second leg, at Berwick next Saturday after the scheduled fixture was washed out by heavy late afternoon rain in the Scottish Borders at the weekend.

But, while both sides are keen on the quick turnaround, a lot will depend upon fellow Premier League clubs Workington and Newcastle, who also had an early season challenge match postponed by the bad weather on Saturday night.

The Bandits are currently due to play hosts to Workington next Saturday but the Cumbrians are also keen to reschedule their

lost home clash with the Diamonds as soon as possible so have intimated that they would be more than happy with the switch.

SG Petch Bears boss Brian Havelock, who arrived just before the “meeting cancelled” notices went out at Shielfield Park at around 6pm, commented: “Provisionally Berwick want to try and race us again next Saturday but I’ve yet to check with all of our lads to see whether they all available.

“It was disappointing as we all want to get as much practice in before the League Cup begins in a couple of weeks time.

“It rained very heavily before we arrived and for about 20 minutes after we left but, had it faired up at seven, we maybe could have got started at half past and still got the meeting through before their 9.30pm curfew?”

Newcastle and Workington were due to meet on Tyneside last nigh and both promotions were expected to hammer out the logistics of the fixture switch from their point of view.

Workington boss Tony Jackson, who is also keen to give his riders as much track time as possible after the winter break, explained:

“It makes good business sense to rerun both washed out matches as soon as possible as it means we should have the same or similar teams so we can use the same programmes, without the need for inserts and so on.

“We weren’t expecting to run a meeting at Derwent Park next Saturday so we also need to confirm that the stadium is available, which it should be because (co-tenants) Workington Town are playing away the following day, and also that full medical cover is available.

“But in principal, we are happy to do it, so a lot now depends upon whether Newcastle and their riders are available.”

The complicated situation is expected to be resolved one way or the other today and Havelock continued: “If we get the go ahead it means a busy weekend - three matches in four days - for our boys, with a Tyne-Tees Trophy home match against Newcastle on Thursday night and the second leg on their track on Sunday.

“But again it gives the lads a chance to get really race fit and iron out any bike problems or set-up changes they have before the serious stuff starts.”

Meanwhile the Bears could yet make the long trip to Plymouth this season.

The emergency committee of the Plymouth Devils are attempting a crowd-funding scheme in a bid to keep the club on track.

After the St Boniface Arena promotion informed the BSPA that they will no longer be continuing as a Premier League club, an eight-man committee was put in place and a meeting on Thursday was attended by more than 100 supporters.